Holidaymakers heading overseas are likely to need a vaccine passport to enable them to get away once foreign travel is eventually given the go-ahead.
There are calls to establish travel corridors between the UK, including Birmingham Airport, and Europe's holiday hotspots with resorts in Greece and Spain already planning to introduce vaccine certificates for visitors.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed that a study into the use of vaccine and testing certificates will be one of four reviews conducted as part of easing the current restrictions during his roadmap to recovery speech.
The findings of the vaccine passport probe are hoped to be available before stage four of the lockdown easing on June 21 is reached – the earliest date by which ministers hope all restrictions can be lifted. However, there is a chance that foreign leisure travel could resume by May 17.
Andrew Flintham, Tui UK and Ireland managing director, added: “We know there’s a huge demand to travel, with demand for Greece, Spain and Turkey from July onwards the most booked overnight, with bookings up 500 per cent.”
The BBC reported that Thomas Cook said it had bookings already “flooding in” for Greece, Cyprus, Mexico and the Dominican Republic with easyJet also reporting a massive surge in holiday and flight reservations.
This is how vaccine passports will be implemented
When people are vaccinated they could be given an official card or app, which states they have received the Covid-19 vaccine.
This would be shown at the UK border or airlines could require it to be used to check-in - similar to a boarding pass.
Several UK firms are working on an immunity and vaccination passport, which is being tested by the NHS.
They say it would enable test results or vaccination status to be registered and proved without the need for extensive new infrastructure.
What is the travel industry saying?
Australian airline Qantas has said it eventually will require proof of a coronavirus vaccine to board its flights, while Air New Zealand is planning to introduce a vaccine certificate for all travellers.
Etihad Airways and Emirates will start using a digital travel pass so passengers can provide them, and border control, with proof they have been vaccinated or tested for Covid-19.
UK travel company Saga has also insisted passengers on its holidays or cruises in 2021 must be fully vaccinated.
What are the issues with a vaccine passport?
Some human right groups and academics have said vaccine passports could discriminate against those who have not yet had a vaccine, cannot have one or do not want one.
Is it a new idea?
Certificates stating the holder has been vaccinated against certain diseases are essential when applying for a visa from certain countries.
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Many nations already require a vaccine certificate for diseases such as yellow fever and polio and will deny entry if these cannot be produced.
Other countries considering vaccine passports
Greece
The Greek government is pushing the EU to adopt a vaccination passport.
It has already signed a deal on February 8 with Israel to mutually recognise vaccination certificates to allow travel between the two countries.
Spain
The country has proposed the use of a Europe-wide vaccination card.
Spain's tourism minister, Reyes Maroto, said travel corridors including the vaccination certificate will be used "as an element of safe mobility".
The minister added: "We already have the protocols that were approved for the Balearics and the Canaries, and we are working with Andalusia, Catalonia and Valencia so that, as soon as they can be used, they will be a tool to restart travel."
Cyprus
The island plans to start allowing EU citizens in first, as long as they can prove they have been vaccinated.
Denmark
A digital vaccine passport is being developed by the government so its citizens can prove they have had the jab.
Portugal
Authorities have stressed a vaccination certificate would allow travel between European countries - and could dispense with requirements such as expensive Covid tests.
